Congressman Rangel Says He's Ready for 2012 Election

By Cyril Josh Barker, Special to the NNPA from the New York Amsterdam News –

It's never too early to start.

Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel is “fired up” for the 2012 election season, with hopes of winning his 41st term as representative of the 15th Congressional District.

Rangel has officially filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission allowing him to run in 2012 and begin to raise funds for his campaign.

The Democratic Party congressman hit a few bumps last year when he was censured by Congress on ethics charges, and stepped aside from his position as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee before the Democrats lost the House of Representatives in the fall elections. However, Rangel's camp said the congressman is gearing up for another victory.

“I would assume he's confident,” said Bob Liff, a spokesman for Rangel's campaign. “We were up against some significant obstacles and went through the toughest election since 1994, and it was extremely gratifying for him. He won every single part of the district and he won against five other candidates.”

Liff added that Rangel is one of several sitting representatives who have already made a running start for 2012. Michigan Rep. John Conyers from Detroit told a newspaper that he plans to run for his 25th term.

Rangel won the 2010 Democratic primary congressional race for the 15th District seat with 51 percent of the vote against five opponents, and in the general election he received 81 percent of the vote.

Several candidates from the 2010 election have expressed interest in running again, including Joyce Johnson, who was endorsed by the New York Times for the seat in 2010, Vince Morgan and Craig Schley.

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